During the first few weeks of September, dancers in Collaborative Process (DAN 4830) have visited the Library twice to learn about its resources: once, on September 10, to learn about library resources for their final papers, and again on September 19, to explore how physical space affects their creative processes. One visit involved sitting in a computer classroom; the other involved actually dancing on the main staircase and in the first floor atrium. In both cases, they used the Library's resources to explore dance intellectually and physically.

Associate Professor of Dance and the class’s instructor Emily Daughtridge explained the less-traditional, but creative use of the Library's resources that her class experienced on the Thursday the 19th:

"The students were members of my Collaborative Process class, which is a course for senior Dance Studies majors. The students in Collaborative Process are exploring the nature of creativity in collaborative work, crossing disciplines and group processes. [Thursday’s] class, guided by invited guest and chair of Theatre and Dance, Marianne Adams, took inspiration from Postmodern era dance artists such as Trisha Brown. These artists are interested in exploring, dancing and choreographing in relationship to the elements, be they architectural, cultural, etc., of a given environment, or "found" space as it may be.

“During [Thursday’s] class the dance students explored improvisational performance in the library rotunda and in the large open stair case. Both spaces provide unique spatial dimensions, architectural features, viewing perspectives and the opportunity to negotiate movement and interactions not only with fellow dancers but also with unsuspecting pedestrians. In addition Ms. Adam's gave the dancers the following prompts to consider: the shape of the space, the initiation/intention of the movement, and the awareness of being a part of a greater whole."

As part of the Hayes School of Music’s Max Smith Memorial Gamelan and Organ Concert on Sunday, September 29, rare music books, scores, and manuscripts from Special Collections will be on display in the Music Library, located on the second floor of the Broyhill Music Center. Organist and retired faculty member Max Smith (1931-2012) created an endowment to build special collections in classical music to enhance teaching and research at the School of Music.

The concert begins at 3:00 p.m. in Rosen Concert Hall. Click here for more information.

In 1908 and 1909, noted social reformer and “songcatcher” Olive Dame Campbell traveled with her husband, John C. Campbell, through the Southern Highlands region of Appalachia to survey the social and economic conditions in mountain communities. Throughout the journey, Olive kept a detailed diary offering a vivid, entertaining, and personal account of the places the couple visited, the people they met, and the mountain cultures they encountered.

Although John C. Campbell’s book, The Southern Highlander and His Homeland, is cited by nearly every scholar writing about the region, little has been published about the Campbells themselves and their role in the sociological, educational, and cultural history of Appalachia. In this critical edition, Elizabeth McCutchen Williams makes Olive’s diary widely accessible to scholars and students for the first time.Appalachian Travels only offers an invaluable account of mountain society at the turn of the twentieth century.

American folklorist Olive Dame Campbell (1882–1954) was the author or coauthor of numerous books, including English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians. In 1925, she founded the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina.

This case study gives the results a usability study for the discovery tool Encore Synergy (locally branded as APPsearch), an Innovative Interfaces product, launched at Belk Library & Information Commons in January 2013. Nine of the thirteen participants in the study rated the discovery tool as more user friendly. All of the study’s participants were in favor of switching the interface to the new “one box” search. Several glitches in the implementation were noted and reported to the vendor. The study results have helped develop Belk library training materials and curricula. The study will also serve as a benchmark for further usability testing of Encore and Appalachian State Library’s website. This article will be of interest to libraries using Encore Discovery Service, investigating discovery tools, or performing usability studies of other discovery services.

Checked out a banned book lately? Belk Library is celebrating Banned Books Week, an annual event held during the last week of September that celebrates your freedom to read. The event was first held in 1892 after an increase in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. Over 11,300 books have been challenged since 1892. Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection. Belk Library is committed to supporting the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

Ahoy Hearties! Next Thursday, September 19, 2013 is the International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Amaze your friends and family with your fluent pirate speaking skills by logging onto the Mango Languagesdatabase on the Belk Library and Information Commons website. From the main page click on the Databases link or type in Mango Languages, click on the link, create an account, and let the pirate conversations begin!

Belk Library now offers the Appalachian State community access to OverDrive, a service which allows users to download ebooks and audiobooks to their favorite mobile device. Titles include popular fiction, study aids (GRE, LSAT, GMAT, CPA), travel guides, foreign language study audiobooks, and more.

Explore OverDrive to see the growing collection of downloadable ebooks and audiobooks, and enter your Banner/Univeristy ID number to download up to three titles at a time for either a 7, 14, or 21 day check-out. Titles are returned automatically at the end of the lending period, so there are never late fees.

Please join the Distance Education Student Advisory Committee to lend your voice and expertise on the best ways the Distance Education department can better serve its students. This committee offers a platform for you to voice your opinions and suggestions as well as an important leadership and professional development opportunity for students. Committee members will be responsible for exploring and reporting on issues related to Distance Education at Appalachian State, collaborating with each other on projects, and leading discussions on assigned topics. Time commitment will not be overwhelming, but committee members will be expected to be adequately prepared for meetings.

The Process:

Several committee members for all Distance Education programs will be selected based on percentage of students enrolled in each college; ideally representatives from undergraduate and graduate programs within a variety of disciplines.

The Committee will participate via an ASU Learn course set-up to use multiple formats for communicating such as chat, forums, video-streaming, and web-conferencing. The members will work independently and in groups to maximize our effectiveness. If members wish and/or are more comfortable, face to face meetings may be coordinated in various regions.